Who Do You Turn To?
Who do you turn to when navigating board, staff or community dynamics? I’ve served as executive and senior staff for several foundations and been an advisor to dozens of grantmakers and nonprofit organizations around the country. It’s not unusual to find myself in a coaching role with a chief executive or board chair in these […]
The Sunk Cost Fallacy – 5 Red-Flags That Tell You It Might Be Time to Move On
I recently read an article on behavioral research about the sunk cost fallacy (The Economist, 6-2-18)and it got me thinking about how much of this goes on in philanthropy. As many economists and writers have described, the sunk cost fallacy is irrational decision-making driven by emotion and based on past investments – and which disregards […]
A Must Read Article on Foundation Transparency
Transparency has become a watchword in private philanthropy, but far too much of the discussion of this timely topic remains steeped in opinion rather than research. A new Foundation Review article reports critically important and some surprising findings from new research not previously addressed in foundation literature. This article provides new guidance regarding potential benefits […]
Funding Opportunity for Foundations & Their Grant Partners
I don’t usually work the fundraising side of the street, but here’s a unique opportunity for foundations and their grant partners to ramp up their work together. The Fund for Shared Insight is now acceptingapplications for Listen for Good grants. Submissions are due by June 29, 2018; click here for all the details. Listen for Good is “an initiative […]
3 Reasons to Plan for Leadership Succession Now
Research tells us that most foundations and almost half of nonprofits nationally do not have written leadership succession plans in place. Here are three reasons to start succession planning in your organization now.
Advocacy – Yes, you can!
“I thought nonprofit organizations weren’t allowed to participate in advocacy.” “Foundations can’t fund advocacy efforts…can they?” Well, actually, nonprofits can advocate and foundations can (and should) provide support for them to do so! One of the best resources for both foundations and nonprofits on the topic is Bolder Advocacy, an initiative of Alliance for Justice. If […]
What’s Your Giving Style?
The flurry of year-end activity has subsided and the 2017 book is closed. Now is a good time to reflect on your strategy for philanthropic giving – and not only because new tax deductions are on the horizon! Did your philanthropic strategy fulfill your goals? The folks at WiserGiving have created a simple 7-question quiz that reveals […]
Small Foundation – Big Impact
I met Mark Gunther at last month’s Exponent Philanthropy CONNECT conference in Denver. He is Managing Director of the Eva Gunther Foundation in the Bay Area. Mark and The Eva Foundation were instrumental in creating the Alliance for Girls, the largest regional alliance of girls’ organizations and champions in the country. I asked him to share his story […]
What Funders Can Learn From Flipping Burgers
I recently watched “The Founder” (2016) on a cross-country flight – the story of how Ray Kroc transformed the McDonald brothers’ restaurant into a global business. Through the entire movie, I kept thinking this should be required viewing for business majors everywhere. But I realized that foundation and nonprofit leaders should also see this movie! […]
Greater Giving through Giving Circles
The Giving Back Gang, a Cleveland-based giving circle, recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. It has engaged over 70 individual participants and generated in excess of $275,000 in grants benefitting more than two dozen nonprofit organizations. Here are highlights on the Giving Back Gang story from my interview with founder Hank Doll – philanthropist, foundation board member […]
